Illuminating insect-catching device

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to the field of illuminating insect-catching devices, in particular to insect-catching devices comprising an adhesive surface. In particular the illuminating portion is electrically powered.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

This disclosure relates to the field of illuminating insect-catchingdevices, in particular to insect-catching devices comprising an adhesivesurface. In particular, the illuminating portion is electricallypowered, in one form by standard household power.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An adhesive insect-catching device as shown in FIGS. 1-5 to be attachedto a night light, having a light emitting portion, an electric plugportion. The insect-catching device in one example comprising: aself-supporting flexible structure; a decorative side; and an adhesiveside comprising an adhesive substance. In one example, the adhesivesubstance attaches the insect-catching device to the night light; andthe adhesive side extends beyond the night light such that insects maybe captured upon the adhesive substance.

The adhesive insect-catching device may also be configured wherein theself-supporting flexible structure is substantially an ellipse when laidflat. The adhesive insect-catching device in another embodiment isarranged such that the self-supporting flexible structure issubstantially a circle. In one example, the self-supporting flexiblestructure has a diameter of 4-8 inches in diameter when laid flat.

The adhesive insect-catching device may be arranged wherein the nightlight portion further comprises a male plug portion operativelyconfigured to electrically couple to a household power supply.

Another example of an adhesive insect-catching device is shown in FIGS.6-8 is disclosed comprising: a light emitting portion; a rigid outerportion coupled to the light emitting portion and extending therefrom;wherein the rigid outer portion comprises an inner surface and an outersurface; a removable inner portion having an outer surface whichsubstantially conforms to the inner surface of the rigid outer portion,and an inner surface; an adhesive layer disposed on the inner surface ofthe inner portion, the adhesive layer operatively configured to trapinsects. The adhesive insect-catching device may also be arranged suchthat the light emitting portion is coupled to a scent emitting portionoperatively configured to emit a scent pleasing to humans.

The adhesive insect-catching device may also be arranged wherein theadhesive layer is removably disposed on the inner surface of the innerportion. In this way, the adhesive with insects attached can be removedand discarded (recycled) to reduce waste and cost.

The adhesive insect-catching device may be arranged wherein the innerportion is not coupled to, but simply rests upon the inner surface ofthe outer portion. As each portion in one form is a frustoconical shape,the larger upper surface may open upwards, such that gravity holds theinner portion within the outer portion. In other orientations,adhesives, or other attachment structures and materials could beutilized to hold the inner portion within the outer portion.

The adhesive insect-catching device may also comprise a male plugportion operatively configured to electrically couple to a householdpower supply. In the US, this is normally 110 volt AC with well knowntwo (or three) prong plugs and receivers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an insect-catching device in one formattached to a standard household outlet.

FIG. 2 is a prior art night light in one form.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the adhesive portion of a insect-catchingdevice in one form.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of an insect-catching device in one form.

FIG. 6 is another example of an insect-catching device in one form.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of an insect-catching device in one form.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of another example of an insect-catchingdevice in one form.

FIG. 10 is a prior art night light in one form.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the insect-catching device shown in FIG. 9 withthe night light removed.

FIG. 12 is a cutaway view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Described herein is a simple and novel apparatus for reducing the numberof insects in one's home. The apparatus generally comprises alight-emitting portion similar to a prior art night light and anadhesive portion for trapping the insects. While the term “insects” isused, it would be obvious that this device would also catch other smallanimals such as arachnids, worms, etc. The term insects will be used inthis disclosure to include all such creatures.

Looking to FIG. 1 is an insect-catching device 20 in one form. This viewgenerally shows the outer side of an adhesive portion 22 and a standardelectric outlet 24, comprising a plurality of female electricreceptacles 26. Looking to FIG. 2, one embodiment of a prior art nightlight 28 is shown, comprising a light-emitting portion 30 and aplurality of male electric plugs 32, which engage the female electricreceptacles 26 of FIG. 1. The night light 28 of FIG. 2 may also comprisea scent emitter 34, which could be configured to emit a scent that ispleasing to humans. Such night-light and scent emitter combinations arewell known in the art, such as is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,440,incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 3 shows the adhesive portion 22 laid flat to show the simplicity ofthe design. While it is shown as an elongated ellipse, it also couldhave other forms, including a circle, a special form of an ellipse.

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3. As shown, the adhesive portion 22, inone form, comprises an adhesive surface 36, which has an adhesivesubstance 38 disposed thereon. A flexible structure 40 is also attachedto the adhesive surface 36, in one form, to add rigidity to the device.In one form, the outer surface 42 of the adhesive portion 22 isdecorative, either by texture, color, or a combination thereof.

Looking to FIG. 5, it can be seen how the adhesive surface 36 is adheredto the outer surface of the night light 28, such that the adhesivesurface 36 would capture any insects 44 coming into contact with theadhesive surface 36. The outer surface 42 would be most visible tousers, as the outlet 24 shown in FIG. 1 is generally attached to aplanar wall, and thus the adhesive surface 36 would face said wall. Inone form, the insect-catching device 20 is opaque, such that users wouldnormally not view any insects 44 which may become entrapped by theadhesive surface 36. To ease in manufacture, the adhesive surface 36 maybe continuous from the upper edge 46 to the lower edge 48 such that theadhesive which attaches the adhesive portion 22 to the outer surface ofthe night light 28 would be substantially the same as the adhesive whichentraps the insects 44. This configuration would allow the adhesiveportion 32 to attach to a multitude of different night-lights 28 ofvarying configurations.

Looking to FIG. 6, another embodiment of the insect-catching device 50is shown, which generally comprises a rigid outer portion 52, which iscoupled to the night light portion 54 and a removable inner portion 56,which is operably configured to entrap the insects, and may be removedfrom the rigid outer portion 52 and in some cases discarded or recycled.The rigid outer portion 52 generally comprises an inner surface 58 andan outer surface 60. The removable inner portion 56, as shown in FIG. 7,also comprises an inner surface 62 and an outer surface 64. In one form,the outer surface 64 is configured to the inner surface 58 of the rigidouter portion 52. When the insect-catching device 50 is oriented suchthat the upper edge 66 of the rigid outer portion 52 is vertically abovethe lower edge 68, gravity may be sufficient to keep the removable innerportion 56 within the inner surface 58 of the rigid outer portion 52.Removable adhesives, Velcro, and other adhesive or restrainingstructures and materials could be utilized.

Looking to FIG. 8, which is a cross sectional view of the removableinner portion 56 taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7, the different layersare easily perceived. In one form, the removable inner portion 56comprises a rigid inner structure 70 and an adhesive layer 72, whichforms the inner surface 62 of the removable inner portion 56. In oneform, the adhesive layer 72 may comprise multiple sub-layers, such as anadhesive sub-layer 74, configured to couple a carrier sub-layer 76 tothe rigid inner structure 70. In this form, a second adhesive sub-layer78 may be disposed on the carrier layer 76 to entrap insects, whichwould encounter the adhesive sub-layer 78.

In the embodiment shown, to replace the adhesive layer, the removableinner portion 56 could either be removed from the rigid outer portion 52and discarded or the adhesive layer 72 could be removed from the rigidinner structure 70 wherein the adhesive layer 72 would be discarded andreplaced with a new layer.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is an insect-catching device 80 coupledto a prior art night light 82, shown in FIG. 10. The insect-catchingdevice 80 generally incorporates several of the novel concepts of theprior two embodiments. In this embodiment, a rigid structure 84 isattached to the night light 82 and generally comprises an outer surface86 and an inner surface 88, shown in FIG. 11. In one form, the rigidstructure 84 is moldable to allow the structure 84 to be fitted to anight light 82 of various configurations. An adhesive layer 90 isdisposed on the inner surface 88, and in one form, the adhesive layer 90as shown in FIG. 12 comprises an adhesive 92 which couples a carrierlayer 94 to the rigid structure 84. The inward surface 96 of theadhesive layer 90 comprises an adhesive 98, as previously disclosed, andgenerally is configured to entrap insects that encounter said adhesive98.

While the present invention is illustrated by description of severalembodiments and while the illustrative embodiments are described indetail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in anyway limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additionaladvantages and modifications within the scope of the appended claimswill readily appear to those sufficed in the art. The invention in itsbroader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details,representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shownand described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such detailswithout departing from the spirit or scope of applicants' generalconcept.

Therefore I claim:
 1. An adhesive insect-catching device to be attachedto a night light having a light emitting portion, an electric plugportion, the insect-catching device comprising: a. a self-supportingflexible structure; b. a decorative side; c. an adhesive side comprisingan adhesive substance; d. wherein the adhesive substance attaches theinsect-catching device to the night light; e. wherein the adhesivesubstance faces toward the light emitting portion of the night light;and f. the adhesive side extends vertically beyond the night light suchthat insects may be captured upon the adhesive substance.
 2. Theadhesive insect-catching device as recited in claim 1 wherein theself-supporting flexible structure is substantially an ellipse when laidflat.
 3. The adhesive insect-catching device as recited in claim 2wherein the self-supporting flexible structure is substantially a circlewhen laid flat.
 4. The adhesive insect-catching device as recited inclaim 1 wherein the night light portion further comprises a male plugportion operatively configured to electrically couple to a householdpower supply.